Malaysian Muslim Clerics Calls Fatwa to Anyone Dancing the Poco-Poco Dance

Good grief. Muslim clerics could also call Fatwa to our American dances; the chicken dance, the electric slide, YMCA dance, and the achy breaky dance. WAIT! After thinking about it, go for it except for the YMCA. The rest are stupid dances. LOL

(Daily India) Kuala Lumpur, Apr 24 (ANI) — Islamic clerics in Malaysia are firm on their ban on ‘poco-poco’ a popular dance form, claimed of having Christian roots, despite the country’s National Fatwa Council’s decision to allow the dance.

The Perak Fatwa council’s Mufti, Harussani Zakaria, said the state fatwa council was convinced that the dance contained elements of Christianity and spirit worshipp.

“We will not back down on our decision. It is final,” the Star quoted Zakaria, as saying.

Earlier, Zakaria had announced that the dance was ‘haram’. He further said that research showed the cross-shaped movement, normally associated with Christianity, could clearly be seen in the dance.

Zakaria said that this dance form has been originated from a ritual dance often practiced in Jamaica while the word “poco” referred to a kind of wild dance performed while possessed by “ancestral spirits”.

Saltaire Festival 2010

Back in Saltaire just in time for this year's Saltaire Festival. The sun shone (well, in between the rain showers anyway!) and the Festival kicked off with much colour and music. These dancers, in front of the Victoria Hall, Saltaire, are our local team of Morris Dancers - Rainbow Morris. (So local in fact that my closest colleague at work is one of the team). They were joined this year by Clogarhythm, a team of dancers from Harrogate.

It was interesting to see the huge difference in the dances of the two traditions. Rainbow Morris dance in the North-West tradition, their dances originating in towns and villages in the north-west of England. They dance to music, with much weaving, swirling and making patterns. They wave sticks (they use bobbins from Salts Mill), hankies and sometimes garlands. (See video). Clogarhythm's dances are from Lancashire and the north-east - clog step or 'heel and toe' dancing, a bit more like tap-dancing. It reminded me of Irish dancing (not surprisingly, as the dances originated in the cotton mills and there were many Irish immigrants in those mills). The dances are mostly danced in line, arms by their sides with lots of intricate footwork (see video). Their clogs are different too, designed to clatter out a rhythm on the ground, emulating the sounds of the machinery in the cotton mills.

I find it all quite fascinating and I'm so glad people are working hard to keep these traditions alive. It's a fun way to keep fit too (and you have to be fit!). I once tried it ... but found I have no sense of ryhthm at all.

The littlest dancer

I presume this little girl's mother was dancing with the Rainbow Morris (see my post yesterday and also 13 September). She was kitted out in a replica outfit (including bells on her shoes) and although I didn't see her dancing, she was tapping out the rhythm. I think she'll probably grow up to be a dancer, just like her mum.

Rainbow Morris

There was lots going on at the commemorative opening of Roberts Park, Saltaire on Saturday. The Rainbow Morris dancers gave a lively display (despite the heat). Sir Titus Salt - on his plinth - watched over them with a benevolent eye and appeared to enjoy it! There were various activities for children including a circus skills workshop, traditional Punch and Judy show and a climbing wall (hard hats and safety ropes provided). It also happened (apparently) to be the International Day for Biodiversity, celebrating the diversity of life on earth, so there were some displays related to that ...including a stall where you could build yourself a nesting box for birds.

I was discussing it with a friend and we agreed that one of the things that made it all seem especially good was how kind of 'wholesome' it was. Families were out picnicking, all generations were present from tiny new-borns (lots of them! Was there a power cut nine months ago?) to great-grannies. No commercialism (not even an ice-cream van on site, though the volunteer-run café was reported to be out of ices by the end of the day), nothing tacky at all. Just lots of fun, family-orientated activities, good quality entertainment - music, dancing, drama, comedy, cricket - and a real 'local community' feel to it. There was plenty for everyone to enjoy - though the glorious weather was the star attraction. All rather old-fashioned really... Sir Titus would have been delighted.